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Consumers urged to read product packaging
(Volume 26, No. 507)
A customer looks at packets of biscuits in a shop in downtown Yangon. Many products now available in Myanmar feature no English or Myanmar-language instructions or information on their packaging. Pic: Hein Latt Aung
LOCAL experts last week called on consumers to carefully check the labels of products on supermarket shelves to avoid undesirable health side effects.
The president of the Myanmar Academy of Medical Science, Professor Chit Soe, said the proliferation of brands in Myanmar had made it more difficult for shoppers to choose the product most suitable for their needs.
“People seem to think they don’t need to check the label, especially if they are buying a famous brand. But they neglect to think that even famous brands could be fake,” Dr Chit Soe said. “We should be reading the labels that show ingredients, preparation instructions, production date and expiry date.”
He also said consumers should be careful not to overuse products that have a recommended maximum intake, like medicine. Overuse of cosmetics, for example, can lead to allergies in some people, he said.
Dr Maung Maung Lay, the secretary general from the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI), said local consumers were unlikely to read labels when deciding which product to purchase.
“Most customers seldom read the products’ labels. They use things blindly without reading what ingredients they contain or the instructions on the packaging. It is dangerous for the users as well as producers and can lead to difficulties on both sides,” Dr Maung Maung Lay said.
Both experts said reading the ingredients and instructions on packaging could help avoid food poisoning, allergic reactions and other problems stemming from misuse.
They agreed consumers faced more difficulties because of the increase in imported products for sale on local shelves. These products often feature Thai, Chinese or Japanese-language packaging, rather than Myanmar or English.
